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U.S. NEWS Monday 14 February 2022
U.S., Japan, South Korea meet in Hawaii to discuss North Korea

By AUDREY McAVOY talks between North Ko-
Associated Press rean leader Kim Jong Un
HONOLULU (AP) — U.S. and former President Don-
Secretary of State Antony ald Trump in 2018 and 2019,
Blinken met his Japanese said last month that the
and South Korean counter- tests were a violation of
parts Saturday in Hawaii to U.N. Security Council reso-
discuss the threat posed by lutions and urged the North
nuclear-armed North Ko- to cease “actions that cre-
rea after Pyongyang be- ate tensions and pressure.”
gan the year with a series The Security Council ini-
of missile tests. tially imposed sanctions on
Blinken said at a news con- North Korea after its first nu-
ference after the meeting clear test in 2006. It made
that North Korea was “in a them tougher in response
phase of provocation” and to further nuclear tests and
the three countries con- the country’s increasingly
demned the recent missile sophisticated nuclear and
launches. ballistic missile programs.
“We are absolutely united China and Russia, citing
in our approach, in our de- the North’s economic dif-
termination,” Blinken said ficulties, have called for
after his talks with Japanese lifting sanctions like those
Foreign Minister Yoshimasa U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and banning seafood exports
Hayashi and South Korean Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi walk out together at the end of a joint press and prohibitions on its citi-
Foreign Minister Chung Eui- availability following their meeting in Honolulu, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. zens working overseas and
yong. Associated Press sending home their earn-
He said the countries were additional measures they cuts to the North’s nuclear — is capable of reaching ings.
“very closely consulting” on may take. program, but it has offered the U.S. territory of Guam. Blinken arrived in Hawaii
further steps they may take North Korea has a long his- open-ended talks. It was the longest-distance from Fiji, where he met with
in response to North Korea, tory of using provocations North Korea has rebuffed weapon the North has test- Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz
but didn’t offer specifics. such as missile or nuclear U.S. offers to resume diplo- ed since 2017. Sayed-Khaiyum and other
The three released a joint tests to seek international macy, saying it won’t return North Korea appears to be Pacific leaders to talk about
statement calling on North concessions. The latest tests to talks unless Washington pausing its tests during the regional issues, especially
Korea to engage in dia- come as the North’s econ- drops what it says are hos- Winter Olympics in China, the existential risk posed by
logue and cease its “un- omy, already battered by tile polices. The North bris- its most important ally and climate change. It was the
lawful activities.” They said decades of mismanage- tles at both the sanctions economic lifeline. But ana- first visit by a U.S. secretary
they had no hostile intent ment and crippling U.S.- and regular military exercis- lysts believe North Korea of state to Fiji since 1985.
toward North Korea and led sanctions, is hit hard by es the U.S. holds with South will dramatically increase He started his Pacific tour
were open to meeting pandemic border closures. Korea. its weapons testing after in Australia, where he met
Pyongyang without pre- Many see the tests as an at- The tests also have a tech- the Olympics. his counterparts from Aus-
conditions. tempt to pressure President nical component, allow- The recent tests have rat- tralia, India and Japan.
Hayashi later told Japa- Joe Biden’s administration ing North Korea to hone its tled Pyongyang’s neigh- The four nations form the
nese reporters the three into easing the sanctions. weapons arsenal. One of bors in South Korea and “Quad,” a bloc of Indo-Pa-
ministers had “very fruitful” The Biden administration the missiles recently tested Japan. South Korean Presi- cific democracies that was
discussion on the North. He has shown no willingness to — the Hwasong-12 interme- dent Moon Jae-in, who created to counter China’s
declined to give details on do so without meaningful diate-range ballistic missile helped set up the historic regional influence.q

Luján plans return to Senate in weeks

for Supreme Court vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dem- I’m back on the road to re- Luján began experiencing
ocratic Sen. Ben Ray Luján, covery, and I’m going to dizziness and fatigue on
who is recovering from a make a full recovery,” the Jan. 27 and checked him-
stroke in January, says he 49-year-old Luján said in self into a hospital in Santa
plans to be back at work the video, which showed Fe, New Mexico. Luján was
in “just a few short weeks” him seated next to two of transferred to the hospital
to vote on President Joe his doctors. “I’m going to in Albuquerque for further
Biden’s forthcoming Su- walk out of here, I’m going evaluation and treatment.
preme Court nominee. to beat this, and I’m going His absence from the Sen-
In a video released Sun- to be stronger once I come ate came as Biden consid-
day by his office, the New out.” “Now I’m proud to ers a nominee to replace Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman
Mexico senator said he is at report, then I’ll be back the retiring Justice Stephen Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., talks to reporters on Election
the University of New Mexi- on the floor of the United G. Breyer. Biden has said he Day at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in
Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018.
co Hospital after surgery to States Senate in just a few wants to announce a pick Associated Press
relieve pressure on his brain short weeks to vote on im- by the end of February.
and soon will go to an in- portant legislation and to In a 50-50 Senate, Luján’s without the help of Repub- have a voice and a vote
patient rehabilitation facil- consider a Supreme Court vote would be critical if licans. during this process,” Luján
ity for “a few more weeks.” nominee,” he added. Democrats wanted to “Rest assured, New Mexi- said in the video. “That has
“I’m doing well. I’m strong. According to his office, the confirm Biden’s nominee cans can know they will never changed.”q